Albert Brooks Joins ‘A Most Violent Year’

EXCLUSIVE: Albert Brooks has been set to star with Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year, the J.C. Chandor-directed drama that was just acquired for domestic distribution by A24 at the Sundance Film Festival. Shooting on the film is just getting underway. Co-financed by Participant Media and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the drama takes place in New York in 1981, a year in which the city had one of its highest tallies of violent crime. An immigrant and his family are trying to grow their heating oil business and their ambition collides with the crime element.

Brooks will play Isaacs’ character’s attorney. The film is produced by Before The Door’s Neal Dodson and Washington Square Films’ Anna Gerb and Chandor, the filmmaker’s partners on All Is Lost and Margin Call. Participant’s Jeff Skoll is involved in producing capacities as well.

Brooks, who is very selective about his movie roles, has been voicing the sequel to Finding Nemo, and last starred in Judd Apatow’s This Is 40, and Drive. He’s repped by WME and manager Herb Nanas.